North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin came together for a five-hour summit, where they toured a space base in Russia’s Far East, sending a clear message of unity against Western influences.

Putin expressed gratitude for the attention given to their visit to Russia and emphasized their commitment to standing together against imperialism. “I’m sure we will remain together in our fight against imperialism,” Putin declared.

Kim Jong Un, in turn, expressed his country’s support for Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine. He characterized Russia’s actions as a “sacred fight for sovereignty and security against hegemonic forces” and affirmed North Korea’s backing of all decisions made by Putin.

One of the key topics expected to be discussed during the summit was a potential trade deal that might involve North Korea supplying ammunition to Russia, potentially for use in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. U.S. officials had been closely monitoring these discussions in the lead-up to the summit.

The high-level meeting commenced around 2:30 p.m. local time after days of anticipation regarding its timing and location. The Kremlin had announced the planned meeting on Monday and confirmed it would take place in the coming days.

Kim’s journey to Russia began on Sunday night as he traveled on a slow-moving train that crossed into far eastern Russia on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Putin had started a two-day trip to Vladivostok earlier, a port city located near Russia’s eastern border with North Korea, where he participated in an economic forum, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.

Their meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome was marked by a cordial exchange, with Putin welcoming Kim in front of the facility. The two leaders shook hands and proceeded inside, underscoring the significance of their alliance.

The summit between North Korea and Russia not only reinforces their collaboration but also highlights their opposition to Western powers, particularly regarding the Ukraine conflict. The world will be closely watching how this alliance develops and its potential implications for regional and global geopolitics.